NFL wide receiver rankings ahead of Week 5

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• Jaxon Smith-Njigba climbs to No. 2: The Seahawks wideout’s PFF receiving grade is into the 90.0s ahead of Week 5, pushing him to second place.

• Puka Nacua remains the clear top wide receiver in the NFL: His 93.5 PFF receiving grade is nearly three points better than Smith-Njigba’s mark.

Estimated Reading Time: 17 minutes

We’re diving into the top wide receivers by PFF receiving grade through Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season. To qualify, players need to have logged at least 50 receiving snaps.

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (93.5)

Nacua recorded the fourth 150-plus-yard receiving game of his career in the Rams’ Week 4 win over the Colts. He caught 13 of 14 targets for 170 yards and moved the chains eight times. He also brought in his first touchdown pass of the season, a slant route over Xavien Howard late in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-2 to bring the Rams within a point of tying the game. Nacua secured eight catches of 10-plus yards in the game, including four explosive gains of 15-plus yards. He generated a 141.1 passer rating when targeted and a 92.1 PFF receiving grade for his efforts, both top-10 marks among qualifying receivers.

Nacua is a natural playmaker and continues to lead receivers in several metrics that prove as much. He now has 42 catches for 503 yards and 26 first downs with a 40.8% threat rate and 12 gains of 15-plus yards. He also ranks in the top five in yards after contact (106) and forced missed tackles (six). Thirteen of his 49 targets have come from play-action passes, leading to 11 catches for 158 yards (most) and eight first downs.

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (90.1)

Smith-Njigba caught four passes for 79 yards against the Cardinals on Thursday Night Football, moving the chains each time. Two of his receptions went for 15-plus yards along the sideline in the fourth quarter, both with Max Melton in coverage. He finished the contest with a 93.1 PFF receiving grade from that area of the field (first). Smith-Njigba forced two missed tackles, averaged 2.82 yards per route run and earned an 81.9 PFF receiving grade for the game.

The third-year wideout has 26 catches for 402 yards (second most) through the first month of the season. He’s been targeted 16 times outside the numbers, hauling in 11 of those passes for 186 yards, a touchdown and nine first downs. He has a 48.5% threat rate (second best) and ranks first in PFF receiving grade (92.9) from that area of the field.

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (89.1)

St. Brown caught all seven of his targets against the Browns for 70 yards and four first downs. He also brought in two more touchdown passes, giving him six across the past three games. St. Brown recorded two catches of 10-plus yards, including a 25-yard gain late in the first quarter when he was left wide open in zone coverage. St. Brown averaged 4.9 yards after the catch per reception and generated a 147.9 passer rating when targeted.

The USC product has now secured 27 of 31 targets for 307 yards (seventh most) entering Week 5. He has eight gains of 15-plus yards and continues to lead the league in touchdown catches. Both of his scores against Cleveland came on conversion downs — a situation in which he has turned 14 targets (tied for fourth most) into 11 catches (third most) for 103 yards, 10 first downs (tied for most) and four touchdowns.

4. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (81.0)

Hill will miss the rest of the season after suffering a gruesome knee injury on Monday Night Football against the Jets. Before going down, Hill caught all six of his targets for 67 yards and five first downs. He started the second quarter off with a 28-yard gain and produced a 113.2 passer rating when targeted in the game.

Hill will end his 10th NFL season with 21 catches for 265 yards, a touchdown and 17 first downs. He notched at least four catches in every game this season, along with at least one gain of 15-plus yards. Sixteen of his 29 targets went 10-plus yards downfield, where he caught eight passes for 148 yards, including his score, on his way to an 82.9 PFF receiving grade.

5. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons (78.8)

London ended September with his first 100-yard game of the season, securing eight of 10 targets against the Commanders for 110 yards and four first downs. He also caught his first touchdown of the year, a five-yard grab between Marshon Lattimore and Frankie Luvu to close out the first quarter. He notched three catches of 10-plus yards on the day, including a 43-yard gain in the second quarter with Lattimore again in coverage. London secured two contested catches, averaged 4.07 yards per route run and earned a 91.1 PFF receiving grade (second best).

The 2022 first-round pick now has 24 catches for 269 yards, a touchdown and 11 first downs. He generated a season-high 22.2% slot target rate against the Commanders, an area where he finished in the top 10 in PFF receiving grade (88.6) last season. London has caught nine of 11 slot targets in 2025 for 111 yards and seven first downs, including his score against Washington. He currently ranks third in slot PFF receiving grade (88.0).

6. D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers (78.7)

Metcalf vaults up the rankings after a five-catch, 126-yard game overseas against the Vikings. He brought in each of his five targets, all for first downs, and recorded two explosive gains, including an 80-yard house call early in the second quarter. Metcalf finished the day with a perfect passer rating when targeted.

Metcalf is up to 15 catches for 261 yards in his first four games with the Steelers. His early-season resume includes 12 first downs, three touchdown catches and six gains of 15-plus yards. Metcalf leads all receivers in yards gained after the catch per reception (12.5). He also ranks ninth in yards per route run (2.27). Sixteen of his 23 targets have come versus zone coverage, against which he has 10 catches for 218 yards with nine first downs. He’s generating a 127.1 passer rating when targeted and owns an 80.6 PFF receiving grade against the scheme (fifth best).

7. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets (78.1)

Wilson caught six passes for 82 yards on Monday Night Football against the Dolphins. He moved the chains four times and recorded his third touchdown of the season on a leaping 23-yard grab in the endzone with Rasul Douglas in his face. He ended the night with three catches of 15-plus yards, six forced missed tackles and a 146.9 passer rating when targeted.

Wilson ranks sixth in receiving yards (311) this season, powered by 14 first downs and seven gains of 15-plus yards. He has gained at least a step of separation on 20 of his 35 targets (third best), catching 16 of those passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns and nine first downs en route to a 91.8 PFF receiving grade on such plays.

8. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (77.9)

Flowers saw eight targets against the Chiefs, securing seven for 74 yards. He gained four first downs, made three contested catches and tallied three gains of 15-plus yards, including a 21-yard pickup early in the first quarter.

Flowers now has 23 catches for 305 yards (eighth most) this season. He ranks third in yards after the catch (150) and is averaging the sixth-most yards after the catch per reception (6.5). Flowers has been targeted eight times on play-action passes this season, bringing in each for 149 yards (third). He owns an 86.0 play-action PFF receiving grade (tied for fifth best) after finishing third in that area in 2024 (92.9).

9. Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers (77.5)

Pearsall was dealing with knee soreness leading up to the 49ers’ Week 4 matchup against the Jaguars, and he exited the game in the third quarter after aggravating the injury on his fifth target of the day. Pearsall finished the game with four catches for 46 yards and two first downs. He made a 31-yard catch on a third-down play early in the second quarter after gaining a step on Tyson Campbell and adjusting to secure the contested pass.

Pearsall is questionable for Week 5 with a PCL injury. He ranks fourth in receiving yards (327) and tied for sixth in first downs (16) through four weeks. He also places fifth in PFF receiving grade on contested targets (92.9), having secured eight of 10 such targets for 154 yards (most) and seven first downs (tied for most).

10. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys (77.3)

Pickens caught eight of 11 targets for 134 yards and two scores against the Packers on Sunday Night Football — all season highs. On his first score, he split zone coverage downfield to give Dallas the lead just before halftime. The second touchdown came with 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, a short catch turned into a 28-yard play after he spun around Carrington Valentine and dashed to the endzone. Pickens accounted for seven first downs and recorded three catches of 20-plus yards in the game.

The new Cowboy, joining the team via an offseason trade, is off to a good start. He has 21 catches for 300 yards (ninth most), four touchdowns (tied for third most) and 19 first downs (third most). He is tied for fifth in gains of 20-plus yards (six) and has been excellent against both zone and man looks.

Pickens has caught 14 of 18 zone targets for 198 yards and 12 first downs — including six contested catches and three touchdowns. He is generating a 128.9 passer rating when targeted against zone and boasts a 10th-ranked 77.7 PFF receiving grade against those looks. Pickens also owns a 79.3 PFF receiving grade against single coverage, having secured six of 10 such targets for 97 yards.

11. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (76.2)

Odunze caught four passes for 69 yards and four first downs against the Raiders. He tallied three gains of 15-plus yards, including a 27-yard touchdown to give Chicago a third-quarter lead. 

Odunze now has 20 catches for 296 yards and five touchdowns (second most) in his second NFL season. His stat sheet includes 16 first downs, nine explosive gains and a 116.9 passer rating when targeted. Eleven of his 33 targets have come at the intermediate level of the field, where he’s secured five catches for 57 yards and owns an 82.9 PFF receiving grade. Odunze also sports an 81.2 single-coverage PFF receiving grade, having secured seven of nine such targets for 96 yards and two touchdowns. 

12. KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys (76.0)

Turpin recorded three catches for 30 yards against the Packers, his lowest receiving total since Week 1. All of his catches moved the chains, with his longest being a 15-yard gain on a third-down play late in the third quarter.

Turpin now has 11 catches for 159 yards with nine first downs and a touchdown. Five of his 13 targets have come on conversion downs, and he has hauled in four for 46 yards, converting each into a first down. Turpin sports a 71.7 PFF receiving grade on late downs entering Week 5.

13. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (75.2)

Pierce did not play in Week 4 due to a concussion but is back to practicing in full.

14. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (74.9)

McMillan caught four passes against the Patriots for 62 yards, with three gains of 15-plus yards. He was able to separate from Christian Gonzalez early in the first quarter for a 16-yard gain and then did so again in the third quarter for a 15-yard pickup. His longest gain of the day came late in the fourth quarter when he took a slant pass for 22 yards.

McMillan now has 18 catches for 278 yards and 15 first downs on the season. He has made at least two catches of 15-plus yards in every game, with 10 total on the season. He ranks second among rookies in yards after the catch per reception (5.6). And while most of his targets have come against zone coverage (21), he’s tied for the fifth-best PFF receiving grade against single coverage (90.7).

15. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (74.5)

Sutton caught five of six targets for 81 yards on Monday Night Football against the Bengals. He tallied his third touchdown of the season late in the second quarter, turning Dax Hill around and leaping to secure the catch at the goal line for a 20-yard gain. Sutton recorded four first downs and three explosive plays in the game, all on third-down targets. He finished the contest with a perfect passer rating when targeted.

Sutton now has 18 catches for 266 yards and 13 first downs this season. Fourteen of his 27 targets have come on conversion downs, where he has 10 catches for 186 yards (most) and nine first-down grabs (third most). Two of his scores have come on third and fourth downs, and he ranks third in PFF receiving grade (89.3) on such plays.

16. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots (74.0)

Diggs caught six passes for a season-high 101 yards in Week 4, headlined by three catches of 20-plus yards. Two of his explosive gains came on conversion downs, totaling 52 yards. He finished the game with a 118.8 passer rating when targeted and finished second for the week in yards per route run (5.61).

Diggs leads New England in catches (19) and receiving yards (213). He is also the team’s leading slot receiver through four games, securing eight catches for 67 yards from that alignment. He owns a 28th-ranked 22.7% target rate from the slot, too.

17. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams (74.0)

Adams logged four catches for 56 yards and a score against the Colts in Week 4, his third straight game with a touchdown. It came with 11 seconds remaining in the first half when he was able to get behind Nick Cross and Charvarius Ward along the back of the endzone. Earlier in the drive, Adams caught a 16-yard pass on third-and-10 with Xavien Howard in coverage to extend the drive. Adams later notched a 25-yard grab against Howard in the fourth quarter for his second explosive gain of the day. He finished the game with a season-high 136.1 passer rating when targeted.

Adams is up to 17 catches for 269 yards. He has gained 12 first downs and has nine catches of 15-plus yards. Eight of his 34 targets and two of his touchdowns have been on passes 20-plus yards downfield. He currently ranks ninth in deep-field PFF receiving grade (91.2).

18. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (73.9)

Jefferson caught 10 of his 11 targets for 126 yards against the Steelers, all season highs. Eight of his targets came in the first half, and he brought in each one for 97 yards, with four explosive gains. 

Jefferson now has 22 catches for 326 yards (fifth most) and 11 first downs. Six of his targets in Week 4 came between the numbers, leading to 106 yards (most) and an 86.2 PFF receiving grade on those plays. Jefferson has caught 14 of 16 targets for 256 yards (second most) on passes between the numbers this season. He ranks second in PFF receiving grade from that area of the field (90.0).

19. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (73.8)

Waddle made three catches for 48 yards against the Jets, moving the chains on all three. He had two explosive gains on the night, including a 25-yard pickup on a third-down play early in the second quarter. 

Waddle has 17 catches for 185 yards this season and will likely see his target rate increase in the wake of Tyreek Hill’s season-ending knee injury. Waddle owns a 19.3% target rate entering Week 5, ranking behind Hill (27.9%) among the Dolphins’ receivers. Nearly half of his targets (12) have come from the short area of the field, where he has nine catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Waddle has gained five first downs from within nine yards of the line of scrimmage and sports a 70.8 PFF receiving grade from that part of the field.

20. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (73.5)

Pittman was targeted a season-high 10 times against the Rams. He caught five passes for 41 yards and his third touchdown of the season, a 17-yard gain to close out the third quarter. Pittman tallied three first downs on the day and averaged 16.3 depth yards per target. It was his first game this season with an average targeted depth over 10 yards.

Pittman now has 21 catches for 234 yards and 14 first downs, with five gains of 15-plus yards. Many of his targets (14) have come within nine yards of the line of scrimmage, where he has 12 catches for 114 yards and eight first downs. He sports a 73.6 PFF receiving grade from that level of the field.

21. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (72.9)

Allen made five catches for 37 yards and two first downs against the Giants in Week 4.

The veteran has hauled in 24 catches for 231 yards on the season, with nine going for 10-plus yards. He has earned a 91.1 PFF receiving grade on those plays. Allen has 998 career receptions entering Week 5. He is poised to become the 16th player in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Travis Kelce among active receivers.

22. Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (72.6)

It was a quiet Week 4 for Downs, whose four catches against the Rams netted only 24 receiving yards. But he did convert two third downs in the game.

Downs is up to 14 catches for 121 yards on the season, with eight first downs. He has caught all but five targets and maintains a 23.5% threat rate entering October. Downs has caught seven of nine passes on conversion downs for 66 yards and six first downs. He ranks eighth in PFF receiving grade on late-down targets (84.2).

23. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (72.2)

McLaurin did not play in Week 4 due to a quad injury.

24. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals (71.9)

Chase was held to a season-low 23 yards against the Broncos in Week 4. He caught five of seven targets and also dropped a pass. It marked his second game this season with fewer than 30 receiving yards.

Chase now has 26 catches for 264 yards on the season and is weathering the storm of Joe Burrow‘s absence. His 71.9 PFF receiving grade would be a career low by a significant margin.

25. Nico Collins, Houston Texans (71.7)

Collins caught four passes for 79 yards against the Titans, accounting for three gains of 15-plus yards. He was left wide open for a 22-yard gain late in the first quarter. He later got behind L’Jarius Sneed for a 37-yard gain and recorded a 17-yard catch to close out the third quarter. Collins finished the game with a 118.8 passer rating when targeted.

The 2021 third-rounder enters Week 5 with 18 catches for 260 yards, two touchdowns and eight first downs. Over the past two weeks, he ranks seventh in receiving yards (183), having secured 12 of 16 targets for six gains of 15-plus yards (tied for second most). He also ranks eighth in passer rating when targeted over that span (133.1).

26. Malik Nabers, New York Giants (71.4)

Nabers will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL against the Chargers. The second-year standout had two catches for 20 yards up to that point. He ends his season with 18 catches for 271 yards, two touchdowns and 11 first downs. Nabers had made seven catches of 15-plus yards, and 20 of his thirty targets came from 10-plus yards downfield, where he caught nine passes for 209 yards (seventh most), including both of his scores. He earned a 90.8 PFF receiving grade from that area of the field.

27. Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers (71.3)

Johnston remains on fire after bringing in eight of 13 targets for 98 yards in Week 4, all season highs. He caught his fourth touchdown of the campaign late in the second quarter, getting behind Deonte Banks for a 36-yard grab with Dane Belton closing in. That touchdown was one of four contested catches for Johnston. It was also his first of two explosive gains. His second came in the final seconds of the game on a 22-yard grab. He finished the day with a 110.4 passer rating when targeted.

Johnston now has 22 catches for 337 yards and 10 first downs this season. He has caught six of 11 contested targets for 115 yards (third most) and four first downs, earning a 75.0 PFF receiving grade on those plays. 

28. Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders (71.1)

Meyers caught four of seven targets against the Bears but was held to a season-low 30 yards. His longest gain was a 10-yard catch on a third-and-3 play midway through the third quarter. It was his first time this season not recording a reception of 15-plus yards.

Meyers has 21 catches for 258 yards and 10 first downs on the year. His stat sheet includes nine catches of 10-plus yards for 189 yards, with a 91.6 PFF receiving grade on those plays.

29. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (70.9)

Shakir caught all five of his targets against the Saints for a season-high 69 yards. He capped the first drive of the game with a touchdown, a screen play for 43 yards during which he forced two missed tackles. Shakir recorded a second explosive gain midway through the third quarter, securing a 17-yard catch between two defenders to convert on third down. He forced four missed tackles and finished with a perfect passer rating when targeted for the game.

Shakir has caught 16 of 18 passes for 190 yards, eight first downs and two touchdowns this season. He leads all receivers in passer rating when targeted (147.7) and ranks second in missed tackles forced (eight). Shakir also paces all receivers in PFF receiving grade on screens (90.7), securing all four of his targets for 63 yards and three first downs. Both of his touchdowns have come on screens.

30. Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (70.5)

Ayomanor caught two of his five targets against the Texans for 44 yards, both first downs. His first catch of the game went for 33 yards, after he got behind the defense on a scramble adjustment and continued across in space. His last catch of the game came with 36 seconds remaining in the first half, an 11-yard pickup with Kamari Lassiter in coverage.

The rookie out of Stanford has 12 catches for 151 yards through the first month of the season. He has two touchdown receptions and ranks third among rookie receivers in receiving yards and first downs (10). Ayomanor has secured six contested catches (most among rookies) for 95 yards (tied for ninth most), and he ranks 10th in PFF receiving grade on such plays (91.0).

31. Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (70.5)

Robinson was held to three catches for a season-low 14 yards against the Chargers. His longest catch of the day went for just eight yards.

Robinson is up to 18 catches for 237 yards on the year. He is set to become the Giants’ leading receiver after Malik Nabers’ season-ending injury. Robinson got off to a strong start this season, earning a 78.9 PFF receiving grade in his first two games. The past two weeks have been more challenging, as he’s caught only four passes for 40 yards for a 56.2 PFF receiving grade.

32. Olamide Zaccheaus, Chicago Bears (70.4)

Zaccheaus caught all five of his targets against the Raiders for 41 yards. He had two grabs of 10-plus yards, including a 13-yard gain in the fourth quarter. Zaccheaus secured two contested targets and finished the game with a season-high 100.8 passer rating when targeted.

The 28-year-old has hauled in 14 of 20 passes for 119 yards and six first downs in his first season in Chicago. He’s been held to fewer than 50 receiving yards in each game, but he continues to be productive on late downs. He has now caught eight of 11 targets on third and fourth downs, earning a 74.8 PFF receiving grade on those plays.

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